Politics. We have too many politicians and we need legislators. In my humble opinion, most politicians are overly concerned with their personal agendas and thus cannot see clearly what is best for the country.

I am a humanist and a realist relative to government. Tough love is sometimes the right answer. I see benefits in both parties, though I don't rely on either. Am discouraged with the system that, at its foundation, is based on some really cool stuff.

It saddens me to hear people talk of America as a "Christian" country. It is a country under GOD - whichever way one chooses to embrace or pursue GOD, or not - and it happens to consist of many "Christians." The very heart of America began to beat with Freedom of Religion at it's core. Let us separate church (and temple and mosque and cathedral ...) and state (all government). Each of our selected rulers and officials must follow the calling in their own hearts to do what is best for the country to thrive in the freedoms that define America. GOD bless America (that one universal creator GOD regardless of the prophet who one may or may not wish to follow).

And the only "race" with which we should concern ourselves in this country is the Human Race--the rest is bias ... but don't get me started : )

This country is like a petri dish of the world.

To find wisdom, we would benefit from the awareness of a greater history than that which is presented. Perhaps with such an awareness, we would find compassion, common dreams, strengths to share.

American History needs to be complete, and presented objectively, if possible. The reflection needs to include all natives of America - the Navaho, O'odham, Havasupi, Apache... As I understand it, in example, "brown" Mexican murder and enslavement of "red" natives throughout the Southwest is as awful as that which the "whites" committed. The Spanish, French, Dutch, and English warred with one another and with the natives of the "new world." Throughout time and across Earth there has been struggle for - what - power, a sense of success, supremacy? ... even the native tribes killed, raped, looted, and took land from one another.

And then there were the atrocities among the "yellow" people who toiled to build the west. Plus the tortured women in the east ... "witches" burning at the stake. Not to mention women in general, fighting for equality with men - equality in rights. I have hardly turned the pages of history - imagine what else would be uncovered.

Looking across the world, it appears to be the unfortunate history of mankind. Remove the race-color card and see the power-control struggle that haunts us all. The issue appears to be deeper ... innate and based on fear. What wonderful things could we accomplish if we could embrace strengths across differences in a spirit of working together for mutual success. If we could move forward with the knowledge that every person has merit, and should only "serve" another by choice of vocation or by choice of compensation for mis-deeds (as prisoners might be required to clean up roadways, etc).

Let us find respect for one another. There is always a solution, a compromise perhaps, that can satisfy. The atrocities that haunt us need not divide us. Let them strengthen us as a community of people who will not allow fellow humans to suffer at the hand of ignorance and disrespect. Let us become bigger by learning from one another's strengths; sharing the rituals of one another's cultures - embracing some, allowing differences to exist side by side, letting go of that which no longer serves.